Item No.
10a – Attachment 1
Date of Meeting November 19, 2024
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND THE WASHINGTON MARITIME
BLUE CLUSTER ORGANIZATION FOR ACCELERATING A SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARITIME INNOVATION CENTER
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is entered into on this ____ day of __________,
2024, by the PORT OF SEATTLE, a port district and Washington municipal corporation (“Port”),
and WASHINGTON MARITIME BLUE, a Washington nonprofit organization (“Maritime Blue”),
(collectively the “Parties”).
Port of Seattle:
Founded in 1911, the Port of Seattle is a special-purpose municipal corporation serving the
citizens of King County; its mission is to create good jobs here and across the state by advancing
trade and commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and stimulating
economic development.
The Port of Seattle’s vision is to add 100,000 jobs through economic growth led by the Port, for
a total of 300,000 Port-related jobs in the region, while reducing our environmental footprint.
They are committed to creating opportunity for all, stewarding their environment responsibly,
partnering with surrounding communities, promoting social responsibility, conducting
themselves transparently and holding themselves accountable.
The Port of Seattle is a leader in moving people and cargo across the country and around the
world. With facilities and property ranging in scope from a half-acre park to one of the largest
airports and container terminals on the West Coast, they maximize use of the public assets in
their portfolio while advancing environmental sustainability and equity.
Washington Maritime Blue:
Washington Maritime Blue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and strategic alliance that
propels the Pacific Northwest as a global innovation hub for the Blue Economy and ocean-
based climate solutions. Utilizing an Innovation Cluster Model, Maritime Blue facilitates
collaboration across industry, public sector, research, and communities. Maritime Blue tackles
global challenges, models local solutions, and fosters thriving, equitable, and sustainable
maritime and ocean industries. With our members and partners, Maritime Blue creates growth
opportunities to address the climate crisis, restore healthy ecosystems, and empower all
communities through knowledge sharing, joint innovation, entrepreneurship,
commercialization, business and workforce development.
Ocean-based climate solutions and an equitable Blue Economy have become a necessary part
of how we collectively manage the clean energy and just transition in the Pacific Northwest and
globally. Five strategic areas of focus include; Maritime Decarbonization, Ocean Renewable
Energy, Sustainable Fishing & Seafood, Healthy Oceans, and Digital Transformations - through a
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion lens.
Maritime Blue convenes diverse stakeholders towards action by offering deliberate programs to
advance impact while managing the complexity of public/private partnerships, community
engagement, and technology acceleration.
Maritime Blue defines its core programmatic priorities in the following areas:
● Blue Ventures - startup support for ocean-based climate solutions in multiple programs
● Joint Innovation - strategic initiatives and projects through public/private collaboration
● Equity Engagement - accessible career pathways for underserved communities
● Blue Hub - convening members, stakeholders, and partners to strengthen the
knowledge base and thought leadership through events, workshops, and international
delegations
Whereas, Sustainable ocean investments yield benefits at least five times higher than
their costs.
Whereas, Investments in decarbonizing international shipping (4:1), sustainable ocean-
based food production (10:1) and offshore wind energy production (17:1) produce
significant benefits versus costs.
Whereas, Washington’s maritime economy supports 61,900 jobs, $7 billion in wages and
$24.1 billion in direct business revenue.
Whereas, Washington State’s maritime economy is uniquely positioned to assert itself as
a global leader in innovation and sustainability while fostering a growing economy in an
increasingly competitive national and international marketplace.
Whereas, the Port of Seattle supports maritime jobs here and across the state by
advancing trade and commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and
stimulating economic development.
Whereas, the Port of Seattle is making pivotal investments to sustain the region’s
maritime industry and enjoys strong, deep partnerships with other public and private
maritime organizations.
Whereas, the Port of Seattle actively supports the growth of cruise, logistics, fishing and
other maritime lines of business.
Whereas, The Port strives to be the greenest port in North America and has set ambitious
environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Whereas, the region’s maritime industries would benefit from novel technologies,
promising ventures, investment capital, energized entrepreneurs, and some positive
disruption.
Whereas, the region could benefit from exploring opportunities in areas such as
sustainable maritime fuels, electrification, digitalization, and new ship/vessel design.
Whereas, Maritime Blue has become a leading blue economy cluster organization that is
implementing renewable ocean energy, maritime decarbonization, digital transformation,
sustainable fishing and seafood, and equity-based and career-connected maritime workforce
development initiatives.
Whereas, Maritime Blue’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion ensures that
its work supports thriving and equitable communities.
Whereas, both signatories place emphasis on fostering an environment of innovation as a key
factor for economic growth and recognize the tangible benefits and return on investment from
working together over the past five years.
In consideration of mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the Parties hereby
stipulate the following:
1. AREAS OF COOPERATION:
The Maritime Blue Strategy goals and initiatives identified below represent areas of alignment
with the Port’s objectives.
Maritime Innovation
Initiative: Maritime Innovation Center
As part of the Port's investment to modernize Fishermen’s Terminal, the Port of Seattle is
investing in a flagship building called the Maritime Innovation Center, where emerging
maritime companies can solve industry problems, find technical and financial support, and
build their ideas into reality under one roof.
Built in 1914, the historic Ship Supply Building will be restored and modernized into a 15,000-
square-foot facility with a mix of working space for incubators, accelerators, and anchor
tenants along with meeting space. The Center is designed to meet the Living Building
Challenge – the most progressive sustainability standard in the country – in alignment with
the Port’s goal to be the Greenest Port in North America.
Maritime Blue will operate the Center and host emerging companies that are working to solve
maritime industry problems, increase the maritime workforce, as well as advance blue
economy opportunities around the world. Maritime Blue is anticipated to use the building as
its headquarters and expand its existing activities that include hosting delegations;
workshops; providing office space to members, partners, and stakeholders; workforce
development programming; and housing the Maritime Blue Seattle incubator and other
startup programming.
Initiative: Blue Ventures
Maritime Blue Ventures’ multiple programs are designed to support entrepreneurs and
startups at all stages of development through multiple programmatic offerings, including:
● Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator for venture-scale startups
● Maritime Blue Regional Incubators for recruiting and supporting local startups
● One Ocean Accelerator for International Startups
● Maritime Blue Corporate Innovation Program for maritime and oceans corporations
seeking innovation strategies, sourcing of technology, and support for engagement.
Program staff support provides distinct access to business development programming,
mentors, customers, technology partners, public agencies, and investors through its cluster
members and other partners and stakeholders. Each one of the programs is custom-designed to
support the startups at various stages and needs.
Maritime Decarbonization
Initiative: Sustainable Maritime Fuels Collaborative
The Sustainable Maritime Fuels Collaborative (led by Washington Maritime Blue with the Port of Seattle,
Northwest Seaport Alliance, and Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels serving on
the Planning Committee) is a non-regulatory coalition with a mission to bring together supply and
demand stakeholders to chart an accelerated course for the production, supply, and use of sustainable
maritime fuels (SMF) in Washington through enabling coordination and collaboration among fuel
producers, bunkerers, governments, academia, ports, environmental groups, labor, research
institutions, tribes, and shipping owner/operators. The SMF Collaborative aims to channel its expertise
in the development and execution of research, strategies, and management of projects to identify,
aggregate, and scale mechanisms for advancing the utilization of SMFs in Washington. At each step, the
SMF Collaborative works to create mechanisms to convene relevant parties to ensure that this
development is equitable, sustainable, and profitable.
Initiative: Green Corridors
Maritime Blue is a signatory to the “First Mover” coalition of parties to study and establish a “Green
Cruise Corridor” between the Port of Seattle, British Columbia, CA and Alaska as well as working to
inform stakeholders and early feasibility studies for the growing Pacific Northwest to Korea Green
Shipping Corridors.
Initiative: Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and Hub
Maritime Blue contributes to multiple committees for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and
Hub to support pathways for decarbonization of maritime, ports, and shipping in the region.
Initiative: Center for Maritime Innovation
Maritime Blue is a proposed contributor and Pacific Northwest lead convener for the National Center
for Maritime Innovation, a proposed program of the US Maritime Administration’s Maritime
Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program focusing on maritime decarbonization and
environmental innovation.
Initiative: Joint Innovation
Maritime Blue supports the development of Joint Innovation Projects (JIPs) including a focus on
maritime decarbonization and is a proposed partner with the Port on proposals for green methanol
fuel bunkering, zero emissions harbor craft, industry engagement, and other efforts supporting
decarbonization of the maritime industry in the Pacific Northwest.
Maritime Economic Development
Initiative: Blue Wind Supply Chain Collaborative
The Maritime Blue Wind Collaborative is a nonregulatory coalition with a mission to support the
strategic development and activation of Washington’s participation in the West Coast-wide floating
offshore wind supply chain through a collaborative and community benefits approach. Blue Wind aims
to channel expertise in the development and execution of research, strategies, and the management
of projects to better understand the opportunities for community, industry, and workforce
development within the activation of Washington’s engagement in a West Coast floating offshore
wind supply chain.
● Convene the Cluster of activity, stakeholders, and partners.
● Identify and map WA’s full value and supply chain available to support floating offshore wind
along the West Coast.
● Understand the economic, community, and workforce development opportunities for our region
through focused convenings and workshops.
● Develop a strategy for and activate WA’s participation in the West Coast OSW Supply Chain
through inclusive workshops, studies, and convenings.
Marine Conservation and Sustainability
Initiative: Quiet Sound
Quiet Sound is a collaborative program that aims to reduce the impact of large commercial vessels on
the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) through voluntary measures. The decision-
making body for Quiet Sound is a group of stakeholders organized into a Leadership Committee and
five Working Groups. These stakeholders include state, federal, and tribal governments, industry,
research, and nonprofit groups. The primary project areas include:
● Voluntary slowdown measures for commercial vessels
● Real-time awareness and reporting of SRKW to commercial mariners
Maritime Workforce Development
Initiative: Youth Maritime Collaborative
A collaboration of youth-serving, and public-private entities identifying pathways, sharing best practices,
and collective engagement through career awareness and experiential events including the Experience
Maritime Cohort providing collaborative after-school and school break programming.
Initiative: Youth Maritime Accelerator Project
A summer-long, youth-focused, paid internship program that includes eight weeks with cohort learning
modules and wrap-around services including DEI training and support for employers.
Initiative: Youth Maritime Career Launch Program
Includes three-month, full-time paid internships with wrap-around services, employer, commitments,
and DEI training and support for employers.
Digital Transformation
To support maritime industry competitiveness and sustainability Maritime Blue has a priority
focus area for digital transformation that is incorporated into many of its initiatives including:
● A formal Joint Innovation Project involving Maritime Blue members to expand
enterprise private high-speed connectivity networks for maritime and marine
manufacturing applications.
● Utilizing digital twins, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for maritime
infrastructure, vessel operations, renewal ocean energy development, and marine
conservation.
2. SUPPORT AND COORDINATION:
To further implementation of Maritime Blue initiatives, the Port and the Maritime Blue cluster
organization may develop annual work plans, as needed, that outline and describe each organization’s
roles and responsibilities towards implementing maritime-related projects and initiatives. Work plans
may identify joint goals, metrics, outcomes and funding needed to successfully support maritime
innovation initiatives, workforce training programs and other Maritime Blue initiatives.
Some of the programs identified above result from competitive procurements, and the Port, in its sole
discretion, will continue to determine which programs and initiatives are subject to competitive
processes on an on-going basis.
A Port of Seattle employee or representative that does not have decision-making authority over any of
the Maritime Blue matters described in this MOU or that the Port otherwise engages in during the
duration of this MOU may also have a seat on Maritime Blue’s Board of Directors. Any Port employee
or representative on Maritime Blue’s Board of Directors shall recuse themselves from any discussions
of Port business or potential Port financial commitments during Maritime Blue Board of Directors
meetings.
3. DURATION OF AGREEMENT
This Memorandum of Understanding will cover a five-year period from the date the agreement is
executed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this MOU by having its authorized
representative affix his/her name in the appropriate space below:
WASHINGTON MARITIME BLUE
By:_____________________
Date:___________________
Joshua Berger, President/CEO,
Washington Maritime Blue
PORT OF SEATTLE
By:_____________________
Date:___________________
Steve Metruck, Executive Director, Port of
Seattle
